Great read on Bill Gates and what he sees for the future of his philanthropic work (with some nice Steve Jobs memories thrown in for good measure), but especially fascinating quote on his real belief in his kids and his market philosophies:

Bill Gates: ‘I wrote Steve Jobs a letter as he was dying. He kept it by his bed’ – Telegraph: “It’s not about legacy,” he tells me. “I’d like to see it get done. That is my job.” He has no expectation that his three children, who will inherit only a tiny fraction of his money, will follow him. “Our foundation won’t last long beyond Melinda’s and my lifetime. The resources will last about 20 years after whichever is the last of us to go. There is no family business, and my kids will make their own careers.”

To be one of the richest humans to ever live and give away your fortune instead of passing it on to your own children in hopes that they will go make their own paths is astonishing.

As a dad with two little girls, this part of the article gave me pause and caused a “What Would I Do?” moment.

As a teacher with a middle school flock of kids (and my oldest students are now juniors in college), this part of the article made me reminisce on whether I have been “getting it done” and letting my students know I have that sort of faith in them to go make their own (academic and professional) careers after they leave my/our classroom.

There’s something to be said about Gates’ wisdom here.